Carp are freshwater fish, though in rivers they can sometimes be found as far downstream as the point where the water is half salt. They used to be considered ‘trash fish’ since they will bottom feed. However, in spite of this conception they have always been a good food fish, and in some cultures, certain carp are a delicacy.

Regardless if you are fishing for your dinner or just catch-and-release for sport, they like the same kinds of baits. Fishing for carp with worms, corn kernels, or bread dough is effective, so it is not necessary to spend a fortune on expensive, complicated lures or flies. With this said, different baits will get different results, and if you want to catch trophy sized fish, it may be worth looking into some of the prepackaged carp bait and bait accessories that are available. Boilies, giant maize or flavored corn, and scent additives are among the most popular of these.

Simple gear works well, too, though anyone who intends to do a lot of fishing should not try to get off as cheap as possible. A lot of times, you get what you pay for. While a standard rod and reel from a department store will work, customized carp rods have been around for a long time and are worth investigating. Don’t forget your floats and strong (usually 10 pound test or more) fishing line, and especially have some heavy line (18 pound test or higher) if you are fishing in an area with lots of weeds or obstacles. This is a big part of the challenge in carp angling on a river, and you don’t want a broken line when you finally get a big one.

Having top notch Carp fishing gear will help develop suitable situation for novices. You must be certain that you and your carp fishing gear are tuned up for a big challenge. Big carp fishing is more challenging for novices that are used to going after fish that weighs anywhere from fourteen to twenty pounds.

Here are four tips that can help fishing novices have success with catching Carp:

Proper Equipment

Carp fishing experts always advise beginners to purchase equipment that is manufactured by a reputable manufacturer. Reputable manufacturers create equipment that will be able to withstand the actions of aggressive Carp. Make sure that you purchase a line that can hold up to fifty pounds in weight. A regular fishing line will not suffice. It will not be able to withstand the weight of large Carp.

Choosing a Suitable Fishing Area

You need to find an area that is slightly secluded. Over fished areas are not able to provide a suitable habitat for this hardy population. You can learn where to find the perfect spots by visiting a fishing accessory store within your town or city. You can also visit some of the top fishing forums online. They are filled with golden leads!

Avoid Top Bait

Beginners should avoid using top bait. Bait that appears suspicious or stands out will not lure these unique fish to the hook. Larger Carp are notorious for avoiding top bait. Adhering to this tip alone can save you from hours of frustration and disappointment.

Your Physical Health

It is vital that you consider your health during the beginning years of your fishing adventures. There are some carp that are aggressive enough to put up a tough fight. Trying to pull in a fish that weighs up around fifty pounds can cause serious health issues for some. Make sure you get a complete exam before heading out to the fishing hole.

Devotion, confidence, and patience are three keys to successful Carp fishing. Practicing with the right equipment can help anyone experience success after a period of time. Adhering to the tips listed above can help get off to a great start!

An ideal length of the carp rod is usually 12 feet, but a 10 foot rod is the best choice for those who move from one spot to another while fishing. The distance fishing method is mostly recommended for beginners and this requires fast line pick-up, so a 13 foot rod is required for this method. The test curve of the rod is nothing but the strength of the rod. This is referred to the amount of weight that is applied on the rod tip makes the rod bend for about 90 degrees.

For example, if a 3lb weight makes the rod bend through 90 degrees, then the test curve of the rod is determined as 3lb. This does not mean that the rod stops bending when it reaches its test curve. Whenever the pressure increases on the rod tip, the bend gets transferred towards the thicker end of the rod.

There are three basic rod types: A tip-action rod will reach the ninety-degree bend when the rod tip starts bending. A through-action rod reaches the ninety-degree bend when the rod starts bending. There is another option called all-round rod that places in between the tip-action and through-action rods. Most of the rods are made from carbon fiber because it is lightweight and really thin. In the expensive models, extra weight is given by adding Kevlar to the material.

Why does Carp fishing get such a bad wrap? Why don’t people fish more for carp or go to exotic places places to catch them? I don’t know about you but I would rather hook a monster carp any day than go after the more popular pan fish or so called game fish. Don’t get me wrong I like catching them too, but in my book a teeny tiny crappie or even a decent sized bass doesn’t compare to a 20+ pound carp. I guess it is each to his own, but I do think that carp fishing does get a bad wrap among anglers.

My First Time Carp Fishing

I have always been an avid angler, taking any opportunity I could to go down to our pond when I was younger. So I was no stranger to fishing when I first decided to try and catch that first carp.

It all started when I was in the local bait shop picking up a few things for my morning fishing trip when I noticed that they had home made carp bait for sale. I thought to my self why not I had never tried that before. So I bought some even though my plans for the day were bluegill and bass along with the usual pole set out for catfish.

Even though I had no clue as to what I was doing. Let alone having the proper carp fishing gear. I got my bait rigged up, tossed it out there and put the rod and reel in a stick so that I would be able to check on it easier. Then I went about my bluegill and bass fishing.

After a while, I really was not even paying much attention to my carp fishing rod. Then just as I was starting to pack up all my gear. I noticed out of the corner of my eye that my rod was just about ready to fly into the lake! I jerked and hooked into what seemed to be a monster of a fish. I mean this thing felt like I was dragging in a log. It took me a good 10 minutes to get this thing in, I only had about a 12lb carp, but after that I was hooked. Since then I have upgraded my rod and and real, bought better carp fishing tackle that is more able to handle these large fish.